So unlike ediddy, I’m actually really sad My Generation got cancelled. It wasn’t the best show on television, but I applaud them for having youngish characters who actually lead young-ish lives and live in apartments/houses that look appropriate for someone 28. They made great use of that format too. Anyway, I’ve had the weekend to get over it, and I also had the weekend to watch the pilot of No Ordinary Family.

No Ordinary Family is basically a live-action version of The Incredibles. The Powell family goes on a trip to Brazil. While on a sightseeing tour of the Amazon, their small plane crashes, and the mystical powers of the water they land in give them all superpowers. (Dad: Catches bullets, jumps really high, strong; Mom: Runs fast; Daughter: Telepathy; Son: Super Genius)

This show could have rested on its laurels and stayed pretty one dimensional. A family with super powers?! That should be enough right? Instead they layered in a little family drama to take it from being kind of a pedestrian show to being a bit more meaty.

Dad, Jim Powell (played by an adorably doughy Michael Chiklis) feels like his family is living in different worlds, under the same roof. His research scientist wife, (Julie Benz, from Dexter ) is a super important research-scientist who usually finds herself out of the house, doing science-y things. His teenage kids are dealing with problems on their own, from pressures to have sex to learning disabilities. He thought the trip to Brazil would bring them closer, and while the plane crash sort of did it, the super powers will probably seal the deal.

The good thing about the pilot episode is that it got a lot done. We met the family, found out they had problems, saw them go to Brazil, get in a plane crash, come home, figure out they all had powers, Jim Powell (who works as a police sketch artist) tried to use his powers to stop crimes, Mama Powell found out and made him promise not to do it again, at first the daughter didn’t want her power, the son didn’t think he had one, then he figured it out, then the whole family played football together, which is all Papa Powell really wanted in the first place. And scene. Whew, just writing it makes me tired. That’s a lot of action for an hour. Now that all that basic stuff is out of the way, it opens up the show to dive in to a lot of stuff. The pilot episode eluded to the fact that there may be more superheroes out there. Ooooh intrigue.

Oh and did I mention Papa Powell has a sassy Black friend, just like Mr. Incredible? Romany Malco (Conrad from Weeds) plays a twice divorced attorney who builds Papa Powell a secret crimefighting lair (Sorry Mama Powell). I think Malco has awesome comedy chops, so hopefully he’ll be put to use on this show.

This review is kind of all over the place. I recognize that. Thanks for bearing with me. Bottom line: This show is worth the watch! If you missed the pilot, watch it online. It’s a little something different than the traditional cop, hospital, lawyer, family drama. And that breath of fresh air is what TV lineups everywhere could use.

Wanda Sykes’ wife Alex gave birth to twins today! A baby boy and girl, Lucas and Olivia. Between this and awesome reviews from the White House correspondents dinner, Wanda is having the best week ever.

Went to the *finally finished* American History Museum after a 10-year wait. (Long story) Saw Kermit the Frog, the Puffy Shirt, Steven Colbert’s portrait, an exhibit about television and the Vietnam war, and a striking Abe Lincoln impersonator

Remember Spike from last season of Top Chef? He runs a super burger joint right by Capitol Hill. Had a delicious burger there and saw Spike cooking up burgers on the line.

Back at home for Inauguration? You can watch all the action on HBO, online at Hulu or just pick your favorite news source.

Thoughts: Love these ladies and all of them are contenders. Actually I’m not crazy about Anna Paquin but I think that stems more from my dislike of True Blood. My vote is for January Jones or Sally Field.

Thoughts: Did the Hollywood Foreign Press Association see the same season of Entourage as me? It was dreadful, truly dreadful. Let’s hope 30 Rock or The Office can eek it out, though Weeds was pretty fun this season..except for that whole belt sander thing.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christina Applegate (SAMANTHA WHO?)
America Ferrera (UGLY BETTY)
Tina Fey (30 ROCK)
Debra Messing (THE STARTER WIFE)
Mary-Louise Parker (WEEDS)

Thoughts: Tina Fey took home the little guy last year. I think the only lady in her sights is America Ferrera. UB has been pretty good this year and she’s largely to thank for that.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TV SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin (30 ROCK)
Steve Carell (THE OFFICE)
Kevin Connolly (ENTOURAGE)
David Duchovny (CALIFORNICATION)
Tony Shalhoub (MONK)

Thoughts: Nice to see Kevin Connolly get recognized as one of the last remaining bright spots on Entourage. Will he win? I highly doubt it. Clear the stage for Alec Baldwin or David Duchovny.

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV
A RAISIN IN THE SUN (ABC)
BERNARD AND DORIS (HBO)
CRANFORD (PBS)
JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
RECOUNT (HBO)

I am coming to you live and direct from the “library” at my parents’ house. It’s basically a room no one goes in where they keep the books they’ve never read. Such is life.

I’m taking a break from dessert chatter to bring you my Black Friday Shopping List for tomorrow. I am a bit disappointed at the selection this year but it’s not going to stop Brother Bear and I from getting up with the chickens for some pretty awesome deals.I won’t be in the market for too much TV on DVD tomorrow. It turns out I already own most of the stuff discount retailers tend to put on sale.I was hoping for 30 Rock season 2, no such luck.

If you’re in the market for seasons of Gilmore Girls, The Office, The Simpsons or House you can pretty much go anywhere tomorrow (Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart) and find them on sale. How I Met Your Mother is also a popular one this year.

Here’s what I’m going after:

TV:

Mad Men Season 1 – $12.99 -Circuit City (Retail Price $48.99)

Weeds Season 3 – $12.99 – Circuit City (Retail Price $39.98)

Movies:

Sex & The City – $8.98 – Target (Retail Price $19.98)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall – $8.98 – Target (Retail Price $19.98)

27 Dresses – $5.98 – Target (Retail Price $19.98)

Mrs. Doubtfire – $3.99 – Target (Retail Price $14.99)

Catch Me If You Can – $2.99 – Circuit City (Retail Price $9.00)

Reno 911: Miami – $3.99 – Circuit City (Retail Price $14.98)

For those of you who hate waking up early many of these deals are also available online. Amazon is having some pretty impressive deals tomorrow and throughout the weekend.

One could argue Weeds has been crazy this season. Drug trafficking, the Mexican mob, cheese shops, teenage three-ways, etc. But where Entourage takes their crazy and spins it into one-dimensional episodes of fantastical excess, Jenji Kohan and the folks over at Weeds craft complex tales of betrayal, lust and family.

We were treated to the sharp, irreverent wit of Justin Kirk, who’s character Andy has morphed from a comic punching bag to a family linchpin just as troubled as Nancy herself. Dean and Celia finally had it out this week and foreshadowed the return of their long-lost daughter Quinn, who we last saw making out with Silas during the show’s pilot episode. And in a move that could cost her her life, Nancy squealed to the DEA about the secret tunnel and it was promptly raided. The episode ended with Captain Till’s romantic and professional partner Paul getting tortured with a belt sander then murdered, not before he gave up Nancy as an informant. Even her relationship with the Mayor of Tijuana, maestro to this madness, won’t help her get out of this one.

Kohan managed to tie up the loose ends of this at times frenetic season together in a perfect bow of fear and funny, just in time for next week’s finale. Has Nancy finally gotten herself in too deep? Suddenly those thugs with guns at the end of season two or impending wildfires in season three don’t look so bad.

It’s official. Showtime just put a nail in the coffin that is HBO television. I am counting the days until next week’s episode.

The young Weeds actor is currently starring on Broadway in the mega-hit Spring Awakening. He did a great interview with Vulture about Weeds, theater, Mary-Louise Parker and celebrity but the best part was his response to his non-rebel lifestyle:

“I am such a goody-two-shoes. I would rather sit at home with my girlfriend and play frickin’ Wii.”

What a sweetheart…plus he’s really filled out this season. Easy on the eyes and a homebody? Sign me up.